The nature of wit is such that its bite must be like that of a sheep rather than a dog, for if it were to… — Giovanni Boccaccio
The nature of wit is such that its bite must be like that of a sheep rather than a dog, for if it were to bite the listener like a dog, it would no longer be wit but abuse.
Essere la natura de' motti cotale, che essi come la pecora morde deono cosi mordere l'uditore, e non come 'l cane: percio che, se come cane mordesse il motto, non sarebbe motto, ma villania.
Source: Wikiquote · CC BY-SA 4.0
